‘On Hunger Strike’ Political Prisoners in Dreadful Conditions in Iran

Iran: Call to save lives of two striking political prisoners in Orumiyeh and Gohardasht prisons

Hunger strike by 59 prisoners in Karun Prison of Ahvaz.

The Iranian Resistance calls for saving the lives of Kurdish political prisoner Mr. Alireza Rasouli in Orumiyeh central prison and Mr. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a labor activist imprisoned in Gohardasht Prison of Karaj, and urges all international human rights bodies to take effective action concerning the situation of political prisoners in Iran, especially these two striking prisoners who are in dreadful conditions.

The life of Mr. Alireza Rasouli who has been on a hunger strike for 47 days in protest to being deprived of medical care is in danger. The henchmen not only do not transfer this prisoner in dire condition to the hospital, but even prevent his medication, prescribed by physician, from reaching him. He is suffering from cancer and osteoporosis and his disease has caused one of his legs to become shorter. He is continuing with his hunger strike despite the acute worsening of his illnesses, especially his dreadful digestive problems and gastric bleeding.

Mr. Alireza Rasouli was arrested in February 2013 during protests to the tragic burning of girl pupils in Shinabad Village in Kurdistan and was condemned to 3.5 years in prison.

The condition of Mr. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh who has staged a hunger strike since December 2 in protest to his transfer to ordinary prisoners’ ward in Gohardasht and the fact that the mullahs’ judiciary did not observe the principle of distinction between crimes has deteriorated. He went unconscious on Monday, December 21, as he started a dry hunger strike last week and was subsequently transferred to prison infirmary. In order to increase the pressures on this political prisoner the torturers even refuse to give him warm clothing and things to keep him warm.

Mr. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh was arrested in June 2010 for his labor activities and was sentenced to five years in prison in sham courts.

In another development, 59 political prisoners in Ward 8 of Karun Prison of Ahvaz have gone on a hunger strike since December 21 in protest to prison’s despicable conditions and the imposition of inhumane pressures and restrictions.

The prisoners, among other things, are protesting deprivation of medical services. Among their requests is medical care for Jaber Sahraroudi, suffering from MS, and Kazem Khoshnamak, suffering from acute arthrosis.